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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - August 28–01

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - June 10–14 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing Sep 1, 2023

The Good

The FBI has managed to neutralize the activity of yet another notorious malware network. This week, the agency announced the dismantling of the QakBot infrastructure that was used to infect over 700,000 computers worldwide, with more than 200,000 located only in the U.S. Besides this, there’s a piece of good news for victims affected by Key Group ransomware. They can now decrypt encrypted files using a free decryption tool that is built on flaws found in the ransomware’s encryption process.

  • The FBI, in cooperation with European law enforcement agencies, seized 52 servers operated by QakBot operators. The agencies seized $8.6 million from the hacking group, representing illicit profits, while Dutch police secured 7.6 billion credentials from the servers. The trojan had infected over 700,000 across the globe and more than 200,000 were located in the U.S.

  • CERT-NZ officially joined hands with the NCSC to bolster the nation’s cyber defenses. The development comes a month after the government announced its commitment to enhance cybersecurity readiness and response. The integration marks the first step in creating a unified operational cybersecurity agency in New Zealand, with similar actions taking place in countries like Australia, the U.K, and Canada.

  • Cybersecurity firm EclecticIQ announced the release of a free decryption tool for the Key Group ransomware, thus, saving its victims from paying a ransom to recover their encrypted files. The researchers managed to create the tool by finding a flaw in ransomware’s encrypt routine.

The Bad

Moving on to data breaches disclosed this week, three cryptocurrency platforms were in the crosshairs of a SIM-swapping attack that enabled attackers to gain unauthorized access to the sensitive details of their claimants. Separately, a reputed clothing retailer, Forever 21, and a meal delivery service, PurFoods, were notified of data breaches that impacted the personal information of millions of customers.

  • American entertainment giant Paramount disclosed a data breach involving the PII of around 100 individuals. The breach notification stated that the attackers had access to its systems between May and June. The firm is yet to confirm if the affected people included both its customers and employees.

  • London’s Metropolitan Police Service is investigating a data breach that may have exposed the personal details of 47,000 personnel, owing to an attack at a third-party vendor. The data includes names, ranks, and photographs of personnel.

  • Meal delivery service PurFoods disclosed that the PHI of more than 1.2 million individuals was stolen in a ransomware attack that occurred in February. The investigation determined that attackers exfiltrated the names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, payment card data, financial account information, and medical and health information stored on systems.

  • The National Police of Spain warned of an ongoing LockBit Locker ransomware campaign targeting architecture companies in the country through phishing emails. The emails come from a non-existent domain fotoprix[.]eu, requesting a development plan and a cost estimate for the work from the architecture firm.

  • Cryptocurrency firms FTX, BlockFi, and Genesis suffered data breaches caused by a SIM-swapping attack at Kroll. By transferring a victim’s phone number to a new SIM card, the attacker successfully accessed information stored on Kroll’s systems, specifically files containing the personal information of bankruptcy claimants.

  • Threat actors are targeting Cisco’s ASA SSL VPNs in ongoing credential stuffing and brute-force attacks to gain initial access into networks, Rapid7 security researchers shared in a new report. These attacks have been active since March. This comes after Bleeping Computer reported last week that the Akira gang breached Cisco VPNs for initial network access.

  • Cybercriminals are using a variety of methods to gain unauthorized access to Airbnb accounts and steal their personal details, cookies, and account checkers. The stolen data can further be used to book properties, make fraudulent purchases, or perform identity theft. One of these methods involves the use of info-stealers, deployed using social engineering tactics.

  • The Ohio History Connection (OHC) shared an update in connection to a ransomware attack that successfully encrypted its internal data servers. During the attack, the attackers accessed the names, addresses, and SSNs of current and former OHC employees from 2009 to 2023.

  • The University of Michigan took all its systems and services offline in response to a cybersecurity incident that disrupted access to vital online services, including Google, Canvas, Wolverine Access, and emails. The university engaged with the IT team to restore the impacted systems.

  • A data breach notice filed by the clothing brand Forever 21 revealed that the personal data of more than half a million individuals was affected in a data breach that occurred earlier this year. The attackers had access to its systems for three months and stole data from both customers and employees.

  • Group-IB has a report on Classiscam operations that have enabled cybercrime groups to make nearly $65 million by targeting individuals across 79 countries, tricking them into sending money for non-existent goods sold online. First observed in 2019, the campaigns have become highly automated and can be run on a host of other services such as online marketplaces and carpooling sites.

  • A data breach at Topgolf Callaway exposed the personal and account details of 1.1 million customers, including those associated with Callaway’s sub-brands Odyssey, Ogio, and Callaway Gold Preowned sites. The incident occurred on August 1 and the affected data includes full names, email addresses, phone numbers, and order histories.

New Threats

Meanwhile, a lesser-known threat actor group Earth Estries came under the lens of researchers for its involvement in a cyberespionage campaign targeting governments and IT companies. There were updates on new Android malware families—MMRat and Infamous Chisel—spotted in different campaigns. While MMRat was used to target mobile users in Southeast Asia, Infamous Chisel infected the Android devices of the Ukrainian military.

  • After a two-year hiatus, the DreamBus botnet resurfaced in a new campaign to deliver Monero mining malware. The campaign exploited a recently patched vulnerability (CVE-2023-33246) in Apache RocketMQ that allowed attackers to perform remote code execution attacks.
  • Mandiant researchers highlighted that three custom backdoors—Skipjack, Depthcharge, and Foxtrot—were deployed in the May campaign that targeted vulnerable Barracuda Email Security Gateway appliances. The campaign was launched by a Chinese threat group tracked as UNC4841.
  • An ongoing campaign, which is suspected to be active since 2021, is leveraging npm packages to steal source code and secrets from software developers. The packages are tied to cryptocurrency domains, indicating the attackers’ financial motives behind the campaign.
  • Trend Micro dissected a new ongoing cyberespionage campaign by the Earth Estries hacking group, that targeted governments and IT companies in the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Africa, Germany, and the U.S. The group uses multiple backdoors, hacking tools, and PowerShell downgrade attacks to steal data from compromised systems.
  • JPCERT warned of a new attack technique, named MalDoc in PDF, that bypasses detection by embedding malicious Word files in PDFs. The tactic makes use of polyglots to confuse traditional PDF analysis tools and evade detection. The PDF contained a Word document embedded with a VBS macro that downloaded and installed malware if opened as a .doc file.
  • Sophos revealed that a threat actor linked to the FIN8 hacking group is exploiting a critical vulnerability in Citrix NetScaler systems to launch domain-wide attacks. The vulnerability under abuse, in Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway, is tracked as CVE-2023-3519 and can allow attackers to launch remote code execution attacks.
  • A new Android malware, dubbed MMRat, has been found targeting mobile users in Southeast Asia since June. It relies heavily on the Android Accessibility Services and MediaProjection API to function properly. It is capable of executing bank fraud, recording user input and content on the screen, and remotely controlling the devices of victims.
  • A China-linked threat actor called GREF was attributed to a campaign that delivered BadBazaar spyware on infected devices. The spyware was distributed via malicious apps for Signal and Telegram through the Google Play Store and Samsung Galaxy Store. A majority of victims were located in Germany, Poland, and the U.S.
  • A new trojan called SuperBear was discovered in a phishing attack targeting civil society groups in South Korea. The attack, which is attributed to the North Korean Kimsuky APT group, was launched using a process hollowing technique, where malicious code is inserted into an LNK file.
  • A new mobile malware called Infamous Chisel infected the Android devices of the Ukrainian military in a campaign launched by the Russian Sandworm threat group. The malware consists of components that provide the attackers with backdoor access to infected devices for network monitoring and file transfer operations.
  • SapphireStealer has increased its frequency of attacks since its release in December 2022, noted researchers. In some cases, the information stealer was delivered via malware downloaders like FUD-Loader. The malware is capable of stealing sensitive information, including corporate credentials.

Related Threat Briefings

Feb 14, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, February 10–14, 2025

Cyber defenders are sharpening their tools, and EARLYCROW is the latest weapon against stealthy APT operations. This method detects C2 activity over HTTP(S) using a novel traffic analysis format called PAIRFLOW. India is taking digital banking security up a notch. The RBI is launching a dedicated domain to curb financial fraud and enhance trust in online banking. Starting April 2025, financial institutions will register under this domain. China’s RedMike hackers are dialing into telecom networks - literally. Between December 2024 and January 2025, they targeted over 1,000 unpatched Cisco devices. Their primary focus? Global telecoms and university networks in Argentina, Bangladesh, and the U.S. Russia’s Sandworm hackers are using pirated software as bait. Their latest attack on Ukrainian Windows users disguises malware inside trojanized KMS activators and fake Windows updates. Love is in the air, but so are phishing scams. In late January, cybercriminals launched a Valentine’s-themed phishing campaign, offering fake gift baskets in exchange for stolen credentials. Cybercriminals are upping their game with Astaroth, a phishing kit that doesn’t just steal credentials but also hijacks entire sessions. By using a reverse proxy, Astaroth intercepts logins and 2FA tokens in real time, allowing attackers to bypass security measures undetected. South America’s foreign ministry was caught in the crosshairs of an advanced cyber-espionage campaign. In November 2024, attackers linked to REF7707 deployed the PATHLOADER and FINALDRAFT malware to infiltrate diplomatic networks. A new malware named Ratatouille is stirring up trouble by bypassing UAC and using I2P for anonymous communications. Spreading through phishing emails and fake CAPTCHA pages, it tricks victims into running an embedded PowerShell script.

Feb 7, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, February 03–07, 2025

PyPI is taking a "dead but not gone" approach to abandoned software with Project Archival, a new system that flags inactive projects while keeping them accessible. Developers will see warnings about outdated dependencies, helping them make smarter security choices and avoid relying on unmaintained code. The U.K is bringing earthquake-style metrics to cybersecurity with its new Cyber Monitoring Centre, designed to track digital disasters as precisely as natural ones. Inspired by the Richter scale, the CMC will quantify cyber incidents based on financial impact and affected users, offering clearer insights for national security planning. Kimsuky is back with another phishing trick, this time using fake Office and PDF files to sneak forceCopy malware onto victims' systems. Its latest campaign delivers PEBBLEDASH and RDP Wrapper by disguising malware as harmless shortcuts, ultimately hijacking browser credentials and sensitive data. Hackers have found a new way to skim credit card data - by hiding malware inside Google Tag Manager scripts. CISA is flagging major security holes in Microsoft Outlook and Sophos XG Firewall, urging agencies to patch them before February 27. One flaw allows remote code execution in Outlook, while another exposes firewall users to serious risks. Bitcoin scammers are switching tactics, swapping static images for video attachments in MMS to make their schemes more convincing. A recent case involved a tiny .3gp video luring victims into WhatsApp groups where scammers apply pressure to extract money or personal data. XE Group has shifted from credit card skimming to zero-day exploitation, now targeting manufacturing and distribution companies. A new version of ValleyRAT is making the rounds, using stealthy techniques to infiltrate systems. Morphisec found the malware being spread through fake Chrome downloads from a fraudulent Chinese telecom site.

Jan 10, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, January 06–10, 2025

The U.K is fortifying its digital defenses with the launch of Cyber Local, a £1.9 million initiative to bridge cyber skills gaps and secure the digital economy. Spanning 30 projects across England and Northern Ireland, the scheme emphasizes local business resilience, neurodiverse talent, and cybersecurity careers for youth. Across the Atlantic, the White House introduced the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark, a consumer-friendly cybersecurity labeling program for smart devices. Overseen by the FCC, the initiative tests products like baby monitors and security systems for compliance with rigorous cybersecurity standards, ensuring Americans can make safer choices for their connected homes. China-linked threat actor RedDelta has ramped up its cyber-espionage activities across Asia, targeting nations such as Mongolia, Taiwan, Myanmar, and Vietnam with a modified PlugX backdoor. Cybercriminals have weaponized trust by deploying a fake PoC exploit tied to a patched Microsoft Windows LDAP vulnerability. CrowdStrike reported a phishing operation impersonating the company, using fake job offers to lure victims into downloading a fraudulent CRM application. Once installed, the malware deploys a Monero cryptocurrency miner. A new Mirai-based botnet, dubbed Gayfemboy, has emerged as a formidable threat, leveraging zero-day exploits in industrial routers and smart home devices. With 15,000 active bot nodes daily across China, the U.S., and Russia, the botnet executes high-intensity DDoS attacks exceeding 100 Gbps. In the Middle East, fraudsters are posing as government officials in a social engineering scheme targeting disgruntled customers. Cybercriminals have weaponized WordPress with a malicious plugin named PhishWP to create realistic fake payment pages mimicking services like Stripe. The plugin not only captures payment details in real time but also sends fake confirmation emails to delay detection.

Dec 20, 2024

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, December 16–20, 2024

In a digital age where borders are blurred, governments are sharpening their strategies to outpace cyber adversaries. The draft update to the National Cyber Incident Response Plan (NCIRP) introduces a comprehensive framework for managing nationwide cyberattacks that impact critical infrastructure and the economy. Meanwhile, the fiscal year 2025 defense policy bill, recently approved by the Senate, emphasizes strengthening cybersecurity measures both at home and abroad. A deceptive health app on the Amazon Appstore turned out to be a Trojan horse for spyware. Masquerading as BMI CalculationVsn, the app recorded device screens, intercepted SMS messages, and scanned for installed apps to steal sensitive data. Malicious extensions targeting developers and cryptocurrency projects have infiltrated the VSCode marketplace and NPM. Disguised as productivity tools, these extensions employed downloader functionality to deliver obfuscated PowerShell payloads. The BADBOX botnet has resurfaced, compromising over 192,000 Android devices, including high-end smartphones and smart TVs, directly from the supply chain. Industrial control systems are facing heightened risks as malware like Ramnit and Chaya_003 targets engineering workstations from Mitsubishi and Siemens. Both malware families exploit legitimate services, complicating detection and mitigation efforts in ICS environments. The Chinese hacking group Winnti has been leveraging a PHP backdoor called Glutton, targeting organizations in China and the U.S. This modular ELF-based malware facilitates tailored attacks across industries and even embeds itself into software packages to compromise other cybercriminals. A tax-themed phishing campaign, dubbed FLUX#CONSOLE, is deploying backdoor payloads to compromise systems in Pakistan. Threat actors employ phishing emails with double-extension files masquerading as PDFs.

Dec 13, 2024

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, December 09–13, 2024

Cybercrime’s web of deception unraveled in South Korea as authorities dismantled a fraud network responsible for extorting $6.3 million through fake online trading platforms. Dubbed Operation Midas, the effort led to the arrest of 32 individuals and the seizure of 20 servers. In a significant move to combat surveillance abuses, the U.S. defense policy bill for 2025 introduced measures to shield military and diplomatic personnel from commercial spyware threats. The legislation calls for stringent cybersecurity standards, a review of spyware incidents, and regular reporting to Congress. The subtle art of deception found a new stage with a Microsoft Teams call, as attackers used social engineering to manipulate victims into granting remote access. By convincing users to install AnyDesk, they gained control of systems, executing commands to download the DarkGate malware. Russian APT Secret Blizzard has resurfaced and used the Amadey bot to infiltrate Ukrainian military devices and deploy their Tavdig backdoor. In a phishing spree dubbed "Aggressive Inventory Zombies (AIZ)," scammers impersonated brands like Etsy, Amazon, and Binance to target retail and crypto audiences. Surveillance has reached unsettling new depths with the discovery of BoneSpy and PlainGnome, two spyware families linked to the Russian group Gamaredon. Designed for extensive espionage, these Android malware tools track GPS, capture audio, and harvest data. A new Android banking trojan has already caused havoc among Indian users, masquerading as utility and banking apps to steal sensitive financial information. With 419 devices compromised, the malware intercepts SMS messages, exfiltrates personal data via Supabase, and even tricks victims into entering details under the pretense of bill payment. Iranian threat actors have set their sights on critical infrastructure, deploying IOCONTROL malware to infiltrate IoT and OT/SCADA systems in Israel and the U.S.

Dec 6, 2024

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, December 02–06, 2024

NIST sharpened the tools for organizations to measure their cybersecurity readiness, addressing both technical and leadership challenges. The two-volume guidance blends data-driven assessments with managerial insights, emphasizing the critical role of leadership in applying findings. The Manson Market, a notorious hub for phishing networks, fell in a sweeping Europol-led takedown. With over 50 servers seized and 200TB of stolen data recovered, the operation spanned multiple countries, including Germany and Austria. Russian APT group BlueAlpha leveraged Cloudflare Tunnels to cloak its GammaDrop malware campaign from prying eyes. The group deployed HTML smuggling and DNS fast-fluxing to bypass detection, targeting Ukrainian organizations with precision. Earth Minotaur intensified its surveillance operations against Tibetan and Uyghur communities through the MOONSHINE exploit kit. The kit, now updated with newer exploits, enables the installation of the DarkNimbus backdoor on Android and Windows devices. Cloudflare Pages became an unwitting ally in the sharp rise of phishing campaigns, with a staggering 198% increase in abuse cases. Cybercriminals exploited the platform's infrastructure to host malicious pages, fueling a surge from 460 incidents in 2023 to over 1,370 by October 2024. DroidBot has quietly infiltrated over 77 cryptocurrency exchanges and banking apps, building a web of theft across Europe. Active since June 2024, this Android malware operates as a MaaS platform, enabling affiliates to tailor attacks. Rockstar 2FA, a phishing platform targeting Microsoft 365 users, has set the stage for large-scale credential theft. With over 5,000 phishing domains launched, the platform is marketed on Telegram. The Gafgyt malware is shifting gears, targeting exposed Docker Remote API servers through legitimate Docker images, creating botnets capable of launching DDoS attacks.